VOLUME
THE PILOT
NUMBER
Devoted to the Upbuilding of Vass and Its Surrounding Country
SUBSCRIPTION $2.00
VASS, N. C., FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 1921
PRICE FIVE CENTS
Farmers Meeting
Last Monday there were more than 200
tobacco and cotton farmers present at a
meeting in the courthouse at Carthage to
decide the destiny of the marketing situa
tion.
The meeting was called to order by Mr.
j g Von Canon and a splendid report
from the secretary was rendered. This
report showed that 196 tobacco farmers
had signed the reduction acreage pledge.
This is the vast majority of tobacco farm
ers of Moore County and represents about
83 per cent of the acreage. Many others
have agreed to either reduce acreage or
not plant any at all.
The farmers of this county are to be
congratulated on having with them Mr.
Hugh McNair Kahler of Southern Pines.
He was a delegate to the Raleigh meeting
in January and brought back a message
to our farmers that stirred their very
souls. Mr. Kahler has written several
books and is a regular correspondent for
the Ladies Home Journal and the Satur
day Evening Post, and this with his ex
perience as a “dirt farmer’* made his talk
a masterpiece for our farmers. He urged
every farmer to respond this day, as the
“Day of Salvation.” and join the market
ing association that is being organized
over the bright leaf tobacco belt. He
offered his services in every way and
gave a public contribution for the cause.
With such a man as Hugh Kahler as a
leader, the farmers of Moore feel that
there is something in the present plan of
marketing other than a lot of hot air.
Following this came Mr. B. F. Browne of
the Bureau of Markets and with that ever
concise and clear understanding, he dis
cussed at length all the details of the
marketing program as outlined by the
North Carolina Tobacco Growers Associa
tion. Many questions arose and the
greatest interest was manifested even by
the most pessimestic. When Mr. Browne
concluded his talk there was not even a
shadow of doubt in the minds of those
present, that action must be taken to per
fect a better system of marketing our
products.
Mr. T. D. McLean, District Farm Dem
onstration was here. He has been as
sisting with this campaign in a score or
more of counties and being in his capaci
ty with his own farm interest here in the
county he responded with a report from
other sections of the state and gave his
audience a hearing that was much ap
preciated. The farmers appreciated T. D.
McLean for he is one of them and they
have confidence in his ability to organize.
After these talks came an open dis
cussion. This was not a discussion so
much like those that often follow a lot of
“hot air” or “wild enthusiasm,” but it was
the kind that the world is now interested
in. Facts and figures without flurry, be
cause our farmers are now feeling a de
pression that has been brought about over
and above expectation. They have been
a "down trodded member of society” for
generations and they now feel as they
bave never felt before and that it is up to
them to get out of the "rut,” and not be
come the homeless hirelings of a cotton or
tobacco manufacturer. They have now
realized this one question, that if they
don’t help themselves, they need not ex
pect some one else help them.
One little man in statue, but not in ex
perience, in the name of J. T. Fletcher of
West End sounded the key-note when he
told his fellow farmers the best invest
ment they could make was to buy the
present crop of cotton on the October
futures. He told them if they wanted to
have some cotton next fall, not to plant
it. but to buy it now that there was plen
ty on hand and they could buy it a lot
cheaper at the present prices than they
could produce it. This brought laughter
to his audience, but mingled with it one
could see the depression on many faces
that told a story which is related day
after day—overproduction.
The Chairman asked those to rise who
wanted to cut loose from the old system.
And they not only stood for a minute,
but brought in the contract signed up and
paid their fees. Space will not allow us
to mention more of this interesting meet
ing, but when it comes to the “back-bone
of this country,” we may as well say here
that it is seriously crippled if not injured
for life. The farmers of Moore County
are going to do their part in casting a ma
jority and while we still labor we only
hope that each of the other counties will
do likewise. ,
Upper Hoke
Spring is here
March weather.
again with the windy
Help the Starving Children
Experience of Engine 112
By LEON KEITH
An original composition handed in by
a member of the 6th grade, Vass Graded
School:
I am a little engine No. 112. I was
made in Philadelphia. Penn., in the larg
est locomotive works in the world. In
these shops they work fifteen thousand
men and put out seven engines a day.
When I came out of the shop I was shining
like silver. I came about ffve hundred
miles’till I reached the town of Vass.
was snatched and jerked around so much
that two bolts of my draw heads pulled
out. For several days I sat on a little
side track beside of a tobacco warehouse
at Vass. N. C. and when I was repaired I
went to Key West, Florida. From Key
West I went on a ship to Cuba. As I was
going across to Cuba a storm came up. The
ship was reeling and rocking. I thought
it was going to wreck, but after awhile the
storm calmed and we went on until we
reached Cuba. There they got me a
string of cars that I thought I would never
pull. My heart almost failed me at first,
but after awhile I went clipping along
with all that string of cars. I was pulling
and going around a curve when another
train hit me bam. and tore me nearly all to
pieces. I lay there all battered and
bruised ’till the wrecker came and picked
me up and carried me to the repair shop.
Another engine took my place ’till I got
fixed. I went to work again hauling sug
ar for the United States. I was going
across a large river with several thousand
pounds of sugar and I jumped the track
and fell in the river. All the sugar was
damaged. I stayed in the river three
days and nights and the same old wreck-
ei; came and got me out. I wasn’t dam
aged so badly as the other time.
Mr. B. B. Johnson had the misfortune of
loosing his pasture fence by forest fire
Saturday night.
There is by far too little attention paid
to woods burning in the wire grass section.
Of course we admit that fire does damage
to wood land if it bums over it at any
time of the year. But this late in spring
when the sap begins to rise it is much
worse. And again it’s a known fact that
the rough woods will bum, sooner or later,
so it’s much better to pick a good calm
time, late in the fall, when the growth is
dormant and bum off the grass and thus
prevent the big fires later in the spring.
We know of land that has not been burned
over in several years, and the wire grass
is actually knee deep. Mayby this wont
get burnt over this spring but just wait,
the time is coming when it will, and maybe
it will be a good time and mayby it wont.
Mr. W. H. Ray, one of Hoke county’s
best known citizens, was found by friends,
at his home, on the floor under the bed
paralyzed last Tuesday night. Just how
long Mr. Ray had been in this state no one
knows, as he was speechless when found,
but it is thought that he was stricken
either Sunday night or Monday. Mr. Ray
was taken to a hospital in Fayetteville
and little hope is entertained for his re
covery. Mr. Ray lived alone, never was
married, and is the last one of a large and
respected Scotch family. We tmst he will
recover soon, but on account of his age
the chances are againt him.
Mr. W. L. Smith, of Olivia, spent Friday
with his uncle, Mr. J. Hecter Smith, of
Route 2.
Mr. Maples, of the Aberdeen Crate and
Box Company, of Aberdeen, N. C., was a
business callQf on Route 2 last Thursday.
They are catching some fine fish at the
power plant these days. Mr. McFadgen
told us Monday that he had caught 30 or
40 in the last week, all good big, fat suck
ers. Mr. McFadgen is a fine hand to catch
suckers any way.
Mr. W. D. McCrany expects to start his
saw mill in about a week. He has been
closed down for several weeks. S—
There never has been an appeal made
in North Carolina for the Armenians and
Syrians this year, although other organiza
tions have asked for funds. The Near
East Relief is separate and distinct from
the Central European Relief and not one
penny contributed to Mr. Hoover’s coun
cil goes to the Armenians and Syrians.
Every school boy and girl in North
Carolina will be given an opportunity to
contribute to the relief of the homeless
and hungry Armenian children, who are
begging for a chance to live. Tuesday,
March 15th, a collection will be taken by
the faculty of the Vass Graded School,
and every pupil of the school will be giv
en a chance to give their pennys to help
the orphaned tots. Remember every pen
ny that is given will be received with a
blessing, as it will help to save some
little life. North Carolina must feed 3,334
orphans. Don’t fail to give.
Cameron Route One
Same Young Daniels
Several weeks ago the Greensboro News
i I an editorial asked the question: “Can
Josephus Daniels comeback as an editor?”
Taose that didn’t read the article should
get Tuesday’s News and Observer and read
Editor Daniels’ first editorial “Home Again
—Oa the J jb” after relinguishing the reins
of the U. S. Navy that he has held in hand
f jr eight long years with credit to himself
and the United States. Did he come back,
well we should say so. It is the same
young Josephus.
I’m having very bad luck so far, but
since a bad beginning makes a good end
ing, I hope yet to pull many car loads of
sugar to the port where it will be sent
to the good old peo^e back in Vass, N. C.
A
Miss Jennie Cameron, of Rockingham,
was the .week-end guest of her parents,
Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Cameron.
Miss Kate Graham has returned home
after a visiting relatives and friends near
Jonesboro.
Mr. James Douglas was over in Sanford
on business Saturday.
Misses Cora and Bessie Oakley enter
tained a number of their friends an even
ing of last week, in honor of their friend,
Miss Evelyn Thomas.
Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Atkinson, of Southern
Pines, visited Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Keith, on
Sunday afternoon.
Mrs. Mag. Cameron and daughter. Miss
Sallie, attended the burial of Mrs. Sallie
Cameron, near Morris Chapel, Sunday af
ternoon.
Mr. Carl Thompson was over in Sanford
on business Thursday.
Mrs. Mollie Graham spent Thursday
night with relatives near Jonesboro.
Mrs. T. F. Cameron is' on a visit to her
father who lives near Warrenton.
Miss Kate Autrey entertained at a birth
day party at her home Saturday evening.
Mr. J. A. Thomas made a business trip
to Hartsville. S. C., last week.
Mr. and Mrs. Turner Cameron, of Cam
eron Route 3, visited her parents Mr. and
Mrs. M. D. Shaw. Sunday.
Miss Bettie Cawk. of Gibson, is on a
visit to Miss Naomia Peel.
Mr. Ernest Douglas spent Saturday in
Sanford on business.
Mrs. A. J. Keith spent a part of last week
at the bedside of her mother, Mrs. Bynum,
who has been seriously ill at Hamlet
Mr. J. B. Cameron is adding to the ap
pearance of his home by applying a new
coat of paint.
Next Thursday is St. Patrick’s Day.
Don’t forget to wear something green.